Polymer dispersed liquid crystal films formed by electron beam curing

Abstract

Optically responsive films comprising birefringent nematic and/or birefringent chiral nematic liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in electron beam cured polymeric reaction products are disclosed.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A film comprising: birefringent nematic and/or birefringent chiral nematic liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in a film of an electron beam cured reaction product;   said electron beam cured reaction product comprising triallyl/isocyanurate and pentaerythritol tetrakis(2-mercapto propanoate) and excluding any photoinitiator;   said microdroplets displaying positive dielectric anisotropy and/or positive diamagnetic anisotropy;   said film being capable of undergoing repeated thermally and electrically or magnetically induced transitions between opaque and transparent.